Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Ageing is the process of body's systems deterioration with time

Ageing is an accumulation of damage to macromolecules, cells, tissues and organs which are also known as cell degeneration. The maximum life span known for humans is 122.5 years. In most parts of the world, women live, on average, longer than men. In the late 1990s, life expectancy at birth was 80 years for women and 77 years for men. Genetic differences among humans may account for their different aging rates include efficiency of cell regeneration, types and quantities of antioxidant enzymes, different rates of freeradical production, etc.

Everyone's looking for a way to extend life but what does it mean? Life extension refers to an increase in maximum or average lifespan, especially in humans, by slowing down or reversing the process of ageing. Average lifespan is determined by vulnerability to accidents and age-related afflictions such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. Extension of average lifespan can be achieved by good diet, exercise and avoidance of hazards such as smoking and excessive eating of sugar-containing foods. Maximum lifespan is determined by the rate of aging for a species inherent in its genes and definitely by certain environmental factors. Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur. In biology, cell degeneration is the state or the process of ageing. Cell degeneration is a phenomenon where isolated cell demonstrate a limited ability to divide in culture and thereby arise the theories of ageing.